Set aside for the day’s top riders, the winner’s circle in Loughrea served as a photo booth as fans of all ages took turns posing for pictures with Mark Cavendish. The Team Columbia rider again won handily at the Tour of Ireland, in the 158km stage 2 from Thurles to Loughrea, and the popularity of the four-time Tour de France stage winner is only swelling.

A crash just inside the final kilometer didn’t distract Cavendish, as teammate Michael Barry kept him right up front in position. The crash occurred about halfway back in the peloton, which by day’s end had already been reduced to about 70 riders.

Cavendish never looked back.

Pezula’s Fredrik Ericsson in the closing kilometers of the race, still alone after more than three hours in the wind.

Photo: Ben Delaney

“I just [stay focused on] being first across the line, whether there’s a crash or not,” Cavendish said. “My team kept me protected all day.”

Pezula’s Fredrik Ericsson had no one to protect him for the better part of the day — the Swedish time trial champion went clear alone about 12km into the stage and stayed clear until well into the second and final lap of the finishing circuit.

“It was a long time trial today,” Ericsson said, joking that the lack of company didn’t really bother him. “No, I’m used to being alone.”

It was a wet day in the saddle in day two of the Irish tour.

Photo: Pete Goding

Ericsson jumped clear of a six-man move just as it was being caught, and never looked back. Although without the benefit of the draft, he did always have a clear view — a plus on the tight and winding roads, wet from the morning’s light rain.

Ericsson took first through all three intermediate sprints and both king of the mountain contests in his long solo mission.

As the squad did the day before, Columbia ensured a sprint finish at the end, although Rapha-Condor’s Kristian House took a solo flyer after Ericsson was caught.

Rabobank’s Michael Van Staeyen took second in the flat sprint alongside the Lough Rea, with Max Richeze (CSF Group Navigare) rounding out the podium.

Columbia driving with Cavendish in the rumble seat.

Photo: Pete Goding

Garmin-Chipotle’s New Zealand champion Julian Dean sprinted into second overall by scoring two bonus seconds at each of the two final intermediate sprints

Team Type 1’s Matt Wilson defended his king of the mountains jersey by being the first of the bunch across the two KOMs.

And Joker-Bianchi’s Alexander Kristoff kept his green points jersey as he remains second in the competition behind Cavendish, who will start again in yellow on stage 3.

With the 200km stage 3 run from Ballinrobe to Galway being relatively flat, it would take a brave man to bet against Cavendish for a third win.

Stage 4 from Limerick to Dingle includes the Cat. 1 Conor Pass, which could split the field. However, as its summit comes 46km from the finish, it may not be enough to decide the stage.

It was no contest as Cavendish broke for the line.

Photo: Pete Goding

The stage race concludes Sunday with stage 5 from Killarney to Cork, wrapping up with four circuits that include the famed St. Patrick’s Hill. If the general classification still remains tight, the 25 percent pitch could well blow it apart and determine not only the day’s winner but the overall champion of the second Tour of Ireland.

Race note
After struggling at the back today with a stomach condition, Garmin-Chipotle's Daniel Martin dropped out of the race, as did teammate Chris Sutton. Martin initially thought he had picked up food poisoning Sunday after the Tour of Portugal — the first 10-day race the young Irish champion had completed — but his doctor later diagnosed the problem as a virus.